AirTag

The product was rumored to be under development in April 2019.{{Cite web |last=Rambo |first=Guilherme |date=2019-04-17 |title=Apple revamping Find My Friends & Find My iPhone in unified app, developing Tile-like personal item tracking |url=https://9to5mac.com/2019/04/17/find-my-iphone-revamp/ |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=9to5Mac |language=en-US}} In February 2020, it was reported that Asahi Kasei was prepared to supply Apple with tens of millions of ultra-wideband (UWB) parts for the rumored AirTag in the second and third quarters of 2020, though the shipment was ultimately delayed.{{Cite web |last=Haslam |first=Oliver |date=February 19, 2020 |title=Apple To Ramp Up UWB Chip Production For AirTags in Q2-Q3 2020 |url=https://www.redmondpie.com/apple-to-ramp-up-uwb-chip-production-for-airtags-in-q2-q3-2020/ |website=Redmond Pie}} On April 2, 2020, a YouTube video on Apple Support{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2020 |title=Exclusive: AirTags confirmed in a new Apple Support Video! |url=https://appleosophy.com/2020/04/02/airtags-confirmed-in-a-new-apple-support-video/ |access-date=May 11, 2021 |website=Appleosophy |language=en-US}} page also confirmed AirTag.{{Cite web |title=Apple accidentally confirms the existence of an unreleased product, AirTags |url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/02/apple-accidentally-confirms-the-existence-of-an-unreleased-product-airtags/ |access-date=May 11, 2021 |website=TechCrunch |date=April 2, 2020 |language=en-US }} In Apple's iOS 14.0 release, code was discovered that described the reusable and removable battery that would be used in the AirTag.{{Citation |title=Apple AirTags release date, price and how it'll compare to Tile |date=November 2, 2020 |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-airtags |work=TechRadar |access-date=November 2, 2020 |author1-last=Lumb |author1-first=D. |author2-last=Swider |author2-first=M.}} In March 2021, Macworld stated that iOS 14.5 beta's Find My user interface included "Items" and "Accessories" features meant for AirTag support for a user's "backpack, luggage, headphones" and other objects.{{Citation |title=Apple AirTags rumors: iOS 14.5 can track 'Items' in the Find My app |date=March 3, 2021 |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/3536073/apple-airtags-bluetooth-track-find-my-ultrawide-band-u1-keychain-locate-lost-items.html |work=MacWorld}} AppleInsider noted that the beta included safety warnings for "unauthorized AirTags" persistently in a user's vicinity.{{Citation |last=Gallagher |first=William |title=Apple brings back 'AirTags' anti-stalking feature in latest iOS 14.5 beta |date=March 4, 2021 |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/03/04/apple-brings-back-airtags-anti-stalking-feature |work=AppleInsider}}

In May 2024, Bloomberg reported that Apple was preparing a new version of the AirTag, codenamed B589.{{cite news|title=Apple Needs to Evolve to Compete in the Artificial Intelligence Era|author=Mark Gurman|date=May 19, 2024 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-19/what-is-apple-doing-in-ai-summaries-cloud-and-on-device-llms-openai-deal-lwdj5pkz}}{{cite web|website=Tom's Guide|title=Apple AirTag 2 could finally arrive in mid-2025 — what we know so far|first=Tom |last=Pritchard|date=May 20, 2024|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/home/smart-home/apple-airtag-2-could-finally-arrive-in-mid-2025-what-we-know-so-far}}

File:Apple AirTags einrichten.jpg

AirTags can be interacted with using the Find My app. Users may trigger the AirTag to play a sound from the app. iPhones equipped with the U1 or U2 chip can use "Precision Tracking" to provide direction to and precise distance from an AirTag. Precision Tracking utilizes ultra-wideband.{{Cite web |last=Panzarino |first=Matthew |date=April 22, 2021 |title=First findings with Apple's new AirTag location devices |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/22/first-findings-with-apples-new-airtag-location-devices/ |website=TechCrunch}}

AirTags are not satellite navigation devices. AirTags are located on a map within the Find My app by utilizing Bluetooth signals from other anonymous iOS and iPadOS devices out in the world. To help prevent unwanted tracking, an iOS/iPadOS device will alert their owner if someone else's AirTag seems to be with them, instead of with the AirTag's owner, for too long.{{Cite news |last=Haselton |first=Todd |date=April 27, 2021 |title=Here's how Apple's AirTag trackers compare to Tile, and why the company is so upset with Apple |publisher=CNBC |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/27/apple-airtags-versus-tile-tracker-how-they-compare.html |access-date=April 28, 2021}} If an AirTag is out of range of any Apple device for a random duration between 8 to 24 hours,{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Mitchell |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Apple is updating AirTags to make them less creepy |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/3/22516178/apple-airtags-tracking-devices-update-play-sound-privacy-android-app |access-date=June 4, 2021 |website=The Verge}} it will begin to beep to alert a person that an AirTag may have been placed in their possessions.{{Cite news |last=Gruber |first=John |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Three day audible alert when tag separated from owner |publisher=Daring Fireball |url=https://daringfireball.net/linked/2021/04/20/moren-fine-print |access-date=April 20, 2021}}

Users can mark an AirTag as lost and provide a phone number and a message. Any iPhone user can see this phone number and message with the "Identify Found Item" feature within the Find My app, which utilizes near-field communication (NFC) technology. Additionally, Android and Windows 10 Mobile phones with NFC can identify an AirTag with a tap, which will redirect to a website containing the message and phone number.{{Cite news |last=Hollington |first=Jesse |date=June 20, 2021 |title=It Turns Out You Can Scan an Apple AirTag with an Old Windows Phone |publisher=iDrop News |url=https://www.idropnews.com/news/it-turns-out-you-can-scan-an-airtag-with-a-windows-phone/161468/}}

AirTag requires an Apple Account and iOS or iPadOS 14.5 or later.{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Michael |date=May 3, 2021 |title=How to use AirTags with iOS 14.5 |url=https://www.techradar.com/how-to/how-to-use-airtags-with-ios-145 |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} It uses the CR2032 button cell, replaceable with one year of battery life (though some batteries with child-resistant bitterants cannot be used due to the design of the AirTag battery terminal).{{Cite news |last=Holland |first=Patrick |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Apple cautions that AirTag batteries with a bitter coating might not work |work=CNet |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-cautions-that-airtag-batteries-with-a-bitter-coating-might-not-work/ |access-date=January 6, 2022}} The maximum range of Bluetooth tracking is estimated to be around 30 meters.{{cite web | url=https://beepings.com/airtag-vs-tracker/#:~:text=While%20the%20Airtag%20is%20a,and%20about%2030%20meters%20outdoors | title=Airtag VS GPS tracker, what is the difference ? }}{{cite web | url=https://uk.pcmag.com/mobile-phone-accessories/133131/apple-airtag | title=Apple AirTag | date=March 27, 2024 }} The water-resistance of an AirTag is rated IP67 water and dust; an AirTag can withstand 30 minutes of water immersion in standard laboratory conditions. Each Apple Account is limited to 32 AirTags.{{Cite web |last=Lovejoy |first=Ben |date=January 12, 2024 |title=AirTag limit increased to 32 – though AirPods may count as three of 'em |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/12/airtag-limit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112222329/https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/12/airtag-limit/ |archive-date=January 12, 2024 |access-date=June 5, 2024 |website=9to5Mac}}

Apple does not provide a way for users to force an AirTag to carry out a firmware update.{{Cite web |url=https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/check-airtags-firmware-version/ |title=How to Check Your AirTags Firmware Version |last=Clover |first=Juli |date=April 29, 2022 |website=MacRumors |access-date=January 5, 2024 }} Firmware updates may happen automatically whenever an AirTag is in Bluetooth range of the paired iPhone (running iOS 14.5 or later) and both devices have sufficient battery.{{Cite web |url= https://support.apple.com/en-us/102183 |title=What's new in firmware updates for AirTag |date=November 13, 2023 |website=Apple Support |publisher=Apple Inc. |access-date=January 5, 2024 }}

{{notelist}}

AirTags have become extremely popular among travelers to track checked luggage on flights and empower them when luggage is lost by carriers.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Katie |title=Apple's AirTags for Your Checked Bags Are a Travel Essential |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apples-airtags-for-your-checked-bags-are-a-travel-essential/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=CNET |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-03 |title=Why Apple's AirTags Are a Must for Frequent Fliers |url=https://lifehacker.com/the-best-way-to-track-your-luggage-on-your-next-flight-1849945825 |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Lifehacker |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-07 |title=Apple AirTags Are the Best Luggage Trackers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/best-luggage-tracker-apple-airtag/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Cann |first=Geraden |date=2023-01-01 |title=The rules you need to know before putting a tracker or AirTag on your luggage |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/130893123/the-rules-you-need-to-know-before-putting-a-tracker-or-airtag-on-your-luggage |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Stuff |language=en}} In response, Lufthansa stated that AirTags were not permissible in luggage checked with the carrier.{{Cite news |last=Victor |first=Daniel |date=2022-10-11 |title=Lufthansa Says Passengers Can't Use Apple AirTags to Track Checked Bags |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/11/travel/lufthansa-apple-airtags-luggage.html |access-date=2023-03-17 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=Lufthansa says it's banning flyers from using Apple AirTags to track baggage {{!}} Venture |url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/lufthansa-bans-apple-airtags |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=dailyhive.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Beschizza |first=Rob |date=2022-10-08 |title=Lufthansa "bans AirTags in luggage" after passengers publicly shame it with location of lost bags |url=https://boingboing.net/2022/10/08/lufthansa-bans-airtags-in-luggage-after-passengers-publicly-shame-them-with-location-of-lost-luggage.html |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Boing Boing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Imran |date=2022-10-13 |title=Lufthansa airline bans AirTags after passengers shame it for lost luggage [U: ban lifted] |url=https://www.ithinkdiff.com/lufthansa-airline-bans-airtags-luggage-after-passengers-shame-lost-luggage/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |language=en-US}} The carrier backtracked after a risk assessment by German risk authorities following widespread criticism and accusations that it was seeking to avoid accountability.{{Cite web |last=Schlappig |first=Ben |date=2022-10-07 |title=Lufthansa Bans AirTags: Will Other Airlines Follow? |url=https://onemileatatime.com/news/lufthansa-bans-airtags/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=One Mile at a Time |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Lufthansa backtracks on AirTag ban |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1347964/lufthansa-airtags-ban-luggage-flights.html |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Macworld |language=en}} The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that storing AirTags in checked luggage is permitted and not a safety hazard as they contain less than 100 mg of Lithium.{{Cite web |last=Krol |first=Jacob |date=2022-03-08 |title=Why AirTags are the ultimate travel companion this spring break |url=https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/travel/travel-apple-airtags |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=CNN Underscored |language=en}}

AirTags have been used to track stolen property and assist police in recovering them for return to their rightful owners.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-27 |title=Perspective {{!}} I found my stolen Honda Civic using a Bluetooth tracker. It's the latest controversial weapon against theft. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/28/airtags-theft/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en}} In February 2023, a North Carolina family discovered that their car had been stolen. In coordination with local police, they utilized an AirTag placed in the vehicle to locate the car and were able to recover their property.{{Cite web |last=Rumpf |first=Sarah |date=2023-02-10 |title=North Carolina family outsmart car thieves with Apple AirTag |website=Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/north-carolina-family-outsmarts-car-thieves-apple-airtag-picked-wrong-car |access-date=2023-03-17 |language=en-US}} Police were reportedly elated at the ease at which they were able to arrest the criminals and recover the property thanks to the AirTags.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-06 |title=$29 AirTag helps Cary family, police locate stolen car within minutes |url=https://www.wral.com/29-airtag-helps-cary-family-police-locate-stolen-car-within-minutes/20706920/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=WRAL.com |language=en}}

{{see also|Criticism of Apple Inc.}}

Despite Apple's inclusion of technologies to help prevent unwanted tracking or stalking, The Washington Post found that it was "frighteningly easy" to bypass the systems put in place. It has been described as "a gift to stalkers".{{Cite web |date=2022-09-05 |title='I didn't want it anywhere near me': how the Apple AirTag became a gift to stalkers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/sep/05/i-didnt-want-it-anywhere-near-me-how-the-apple-airtag-became-a-gift-to-stalkers |access-date=2022-09-05 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} Concerns included the built-in audible alarm taking three days to sound (since reduced to 8–24 hours), and the fact that most Americans had Android devices that would not receive alerts about nearby AirTags that iPhone devices receive.{{Cite news |last=Fowler |first=Geoffrey A |date=May 5, 2021 |title=Review – Apple's AirTag trackers made it frighteningly easy to 'stalk' me in a test |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/05/05/apple-airtags-stalking/ |issn=0190-8286}} AirTags cannot have most of their components replaced correctly, but it has been found that AirTags with their speakers forcibly removed from the rest of the components were being used to track people. The AirTag cannot detect this change, making it harder for people to find out that an AirTag had been stalking them.{{Cite web |title='Silent AirTags' With Speakers Removed Pop Up on Etsy, eBay |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/silent-airtags-with-speakers-removed-pop-up-on-etsy-ebay |access-date=2022-08-20 |website=PCMAG |date=February 3, 2022 |language=en}} AirTags with their speakers removed have been found for sale on sites such as eBay and Etsy.{{Cite news |date=February 4, 2022 |title='Silent AirTags' With Speakers Off Are Sold Online To Stalk People: Here's How |language=en-IN |work=India Times |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/silent-airtags-stalking-people-561168.html |access-date=February 4, 2022}} In January 2022, BBC News spoke to six women who stated that they had found unregistered AirTags inside belongings such as cars and bags.{{Cite news |date=January 20, 2022 |title=Apple AirTags – 'A perfect tool for stalking' |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-60004257 |access-date=January 20, 2022}}

In late 2021, Apple released an app called Tracker Detect on the Google Play Store to help users of Android 9 or later to discover unknown AirTags near them in a "lost" state and potentially being used for malicious tracking purposes.{{Cite news |date=December 14, 2021 |title=Apple launches Android app to address AirTags tracker fears |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-59654726}}{{Cite web |title=Apple releases Tracker Detect app to help Android users to find nearby AirTags |url=https://thegadgetlite.com/2021/12/apple-tracker-detect-android/ |access-date=February 4, 2022 |website=Gadget Lite |date=December 14, 2021 |language=en-US }} The app does not run in the background.{{Cite web |date=February 10, 2022 |title=New Apple Update Targets AirTag Tracking Concerns |url=https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/apple-airtags-can-be-used-to-track-you-how-to-stay-safe-11643724014 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}

In February 2022, Apple added a warning for users setting up their AirTag, notifying them that using the device to track people is illegal and the device is only meant for tracking personal belongings.{{Cite news |last=Milmo |first=Dan |date=February 10, 2022 |title=Apple to start warning AirTag users not to use devices to track people |language=en-UK |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/10/apple-warning-airtag-users-not-to-track-people |access-date=February 11, 2022}} The AirTag chirps within 8 to 24 hours if it has been separated from the device it is paired with.{{cite web | last=Clover | first=Juli | title=Apple Enhancing AirTags Anti-Stalking Measures With Android App and Shorter Sound Intervals | website=MacRumors | date=3 June 2021 | url=https://www.macrumors.com/2021/06/03/apple-airtags-anti-stalking-measures/}}

The National Post in Canada reported that AirTags were placed on vehicles at shopping malls and parking lots without the drivers' knowledge, in order to track them to their homes, where the vehicles would be stolen.{{Cite news |last=Kulha |first=Shari |date=December 10, 2021 |title=Here's what to do if you find an AirTag placed in your vehicle by a car thief |work=The National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/car-thieves-have-a-new-way-to-track-your-car-and-steal-it-from-your-driveway/ |access-date=December 12, 2021}} In response, Apple announced just before WWDC 2021 that it had begun rolling out updates that would allow anyone with an NFC-capable phone to tap an unwanted AirTag for instructions on how to disable it, and that they had decreased the delay time for the audible alert that sounds after the AirTag is separated from its owner from three days to a random time between 8 and 24 hours.{{Cite news |last=Sherr |first=Ian |date=June 7, 2021 |title=Ahead of WWDC, Apple bolsters AirTags privacy measures, says it's developing Android detector app |publisher=CNET |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/ahead-of-wwdc-apple-bolsters-airtags-privacy-measures-says-developing-android-detector-app/}}

Users who set their AirTags to lost mode are prompted to provide a contact phone number for finders to call. In September 2021, security researcher Brian Krebs, citing fellow security researcher Bobby Rauch,{{cite web |last1=Krebs |first1=Brian |title=Apple AirTag Bug Enables 'Good Samaritan' Attack |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/09/apple-airtag-bug-enables-good-samaritan-attack/ |website=KrebsOnSecurity.com |date=September 28, 2021 |quote=The vulnerability was discovered and reported to Apple by Bobby Rauch, a security consultant and penetration tester based in Boston. Rauch told KrebsOnSecurity the AirTag weakness makes the devices cheap and possibly very effective physical trojan horses.}} reported that the phone number field will actually accept any type of input, including arbitrary computer code, opening up the potential use of AirTags as Trojan horse devices.{{Cite news |last=Krebs |first=Brian |title=Apple AirTag Bug Enables 'Good Samaritan' Attack |language=en-US |work=Krebs on Security |url=https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/09/apple-airtag-bug-enables-good-samaritan-attack/ |access-date=September 30, 2021 |authorlink=Brian Krebs}}

Similar product manufacturer Tile criticized Apple for using similar technologies and designs to Tile's trackers. Spokespeople for Tile made a testimony to the United States Congress saying that Apple was supporting "anti-competitive practices",{{Cite web |title=Tile bemoans Apple AirTags launch, raises antitrust concerns |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/04/20/tile-bemoans-apple-airtags-launch-raises-antitrust-concerns |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=AppleInsider |date=April 20, 2021 |language=en}} claiming that Apple had done this in the past, and that they think it is "entirely appropriate for Congress to take a closer look at Apple's business practices".{{Cite web |title=Tile bashes Apple's new AirTag as unfair competition |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/tile-bashes-apples-new-airtag-as-unfair-competition/ |access-date=May 8, 2021 |website=TechCrunch |date=April 20, 2021 |language=en-US }}

AirTags do not have holes or other mechanical features that would allow them to be positively attached or affixed to the item being tracked; solutions include adhesives (glue, tape) and purpose-built accessories. The polyurethane AirTag Loop is the least expensive solution sold by Apple; it costs the same as a single AirTag and has been criticized as an "accessory tax".{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2021 |title=Apple's AirTags don't have a built-in keychain loop, and we have some thoughts |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/21/22394644/apple-airtag-built-in-keychain-loop-design-price-accessories-debate |website=The Verge}}

Other similar trackers claiming compatibility with Apple's "Find My AirTag" are available. While only compatible with Apple devices, they do not use Apple's proprietary Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, and are not as accurate at finding direction and distance, though claim to be reliable;{{cite web | title=Oscanna Air tracker Tag Silent 25 YEAR BATTERY LIFE |publisher=Oscanna| url=https://oscanna.co.uk/products/air-tracker-tag-silent-25-year-battery-life | access-date=3 April 2025}} however, consumer magazine Which? reported about AirTags "it's unlikely to be much help if you've lost it somewhere really rural. We've found that the Find My network ... has the widest coverage, but it's still reliant on someone with an iOS device walking past your tracker."

AirTags and equivalents using Apple's "Find My" are not supported by the Android operating system; while they can scan a nearby AirTag using Near Field Communication (NFC) and detect unknown AirTags, they cannot pair with a device or use advanced tracking. There are trackers for Android, including Tile, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, and Chipolo One.{{cite web | title=Learn How AirTag Works With Android Devices | publisher=Android magazine| date=20 January 2025 | url=https://www.android.com/intl/en_uk/articles/airtag-alternatives-android/ | access-date=3 April 2025}} Various trackers use other networks, including Google's Find My Device and proprietary networks. Accuracy in finding and locating distant objects is mostly reported {{As of|2025|lc=y}} to be relatively poor, while trackers using Apple's network are accurate.{{cite magazine| last=Martin | first=Jonny | title=Best Bluetooth Trackers 2025: AirTag, Tile, SmartTag and more | magazine=Which? | date=23 April 2025 | url=https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phones/article/best-bluetooth-trackers-a8Kyd7O5ZXSb}}

• iBeacon
• Galaxy SmartTag
• List of UWB-enabled devices

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.apple.com/airtag/}}

{{Apple hardware since 1998}}

{{Apple Inc. hardware}}

{{Apple}}

Category:Apple Inc. hardware

Category:Internet object tracking

Category:Apple Inc. peripherals

Category:IPhone accessories

Category:Products introduced in 2021